Sprint Tri - Pool Swim Question

Odds are within the first 20 swimmers you will see someone breast stroking within 50 meters. Within the first 100 someone will be hanging on the wall each turn. I've even seen people walking the entire thing (4 ft deep pool).

Have no fear. Have fun.

There will be people going off near the front that have to grab the lane ropes or just breast stroke or dog paddle the entire thing.  In my very first tri, a sprint with a pool swim, I thought the third guy off was going to drown.  You'll have plenty of opportunity to stop and rest when there are 5 people blocking the lane in front of you.  Your honest estimated time is MUCH faster than what some people out there think they can do.  Pace yourself, do your own swim, pedal like a mad man, and pick 'em off on the run.  You're gonna do great. 

Good luck!

Dang skippy, Sesh.  It happens all the time (people over-estimating how fast they can swim), but I am not sure if it is always intentional...some people have no clue what their swim times are...but they should.  HA  I took the opposite approach and went a little on the slow side in my estimation.

My first tri, I had NO clue how fast I could swim, so I erred on the side of caution, lest I be flogged by everyone passing me.  I submitted 12:00 (TWELVE!) minutes as my 350m swim time.  I started almost last.  I swam it in 7:05 (a respectable 2:05/100m), even though I had the 1st race hyperventilation jitters about 100m into the swim. 

I don't understand why anyone would want to fudge their times.  I know it can get the nerves up waiting 30-45 minutes to start, but hell, take a deep breath, chat up some new racers next to you who seem nervous, and enjoy it.  Most, but not all people, usually train to race, and waiting in line just allows more time to enjoy the experience. 

Like sesh said, swim your pace, and remember to BREATHE!  That is a big-time swim killer for 1st time racers.  Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Have a blast!

The 0-1650 plan has worked well for me in the past...

This is the plan I have been trying to follow.  Not working so well for me...

(hijack on)  Jill, you certainly *look* like your ready to swim (in your avatar pic) (hijack off)

As to the OP.  Try to be accurate with your seed time.  You don't want to have to swim around a lot of participants (if you seed yourself slow) and you don't want to swim too fast and still be the obstacle to faster swimmers (if you seed yourself fast). 

As for resting every 100 meters, try to maintain a steady pace.  If you can swim 100m in 1:40 and then rest for 0:20, try swimming continuously in 1:55.  Assume you're around other people swimming that 1:55, you'll be passing each other twice per 100 meters (once when you blaze past Mr. steady, and once when he passes you hanging on the side) which will be real frustrating for both of you.  You'll see everything during the race, so don't feel like you'll stand out. 

I assume you can update your time estimate? If so, put in your best estimate now, and then fix it right near the deadline for final time submission. If you only get one chance, then wait until right near the deadline.